Plans have been put forward to regenerate the UK’s Bridgwater Docks in Somerset.
The plans incorporate modernisation of the marina facility and its berths to create new residential and leisure opportunities.
Environmental consultants WSP has been appointed to help shape the design and consult with residents and businesses.
The project part of the Bridgwater Town Deal, which has secured £23.2 million to modernise the town centre with the aim to make the docks ‘a place people want to visit, enjoy and experience a part of Bridgwater’s industrial history’.
Breathe new life into the area
“In the past the Docks were the commercial heartbeat of the town and we hope that this project will help to breathe new life into the area to provide a sustainable future that supports new commercial investment, improves the local environment and respects the needs of the many and varied users including local residents,” explained Councillor Mike Rigby, executive lead member for economic development, planning and assets.
Paul Moore, chair of Bridgwater Town Deal Board, added: “The Docks are part of the history of Bridgwater and have been languishing in a sorry state.
“This Town Deal scheme hopes to kick-start the process of becoming a heritage destination which becomes a building block for the long-term regeneration of the Docks area.”
Key next steps for the project will include securing planning permission for the development, with the aim of moving into project delivery in 2026.
Part of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal extension
Bridgwater Docks was constructed between 1837 and 1841 to facilitiate trade. The Docks were a part of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal extension and operated commercially until the 1970s.
The site was converted into a marina in the 1980s.
The docks connect to both the Taunton and Bridgwater Canal and the River Parrett, but are currently non-operational for boating.
The Docks lie within the Bridgwater Central Area & Dock Conservation Area and retains historically significant buildings, including the Grade II listed Harbour Master’s House, original warehouses and 19th-century industrial storage buildings.
The public consultation follows on from an earlier one in 2023.
